Port Metro Vancouver fire: What you need to know

If you're in the downtown core, here's what you need to know about the chemical fire at Port Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Serviceslifteda stay-in order around 6 p.m. PT for those in the east end of the downtown core.

Evacuated area, shelter for DTES

Health authorities saytrichloroisocyanuricacid, which can be used as an industrial disinfectant, was burning at the container terminal.

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Vancouver fire department hadclosed off a portion of the downtown areawhile the heavy smokebillowed from the container fire. That stay-in order was lifted around 6 p.m. PT

People living in Vancouver east of Main Street and north of East 1st Avenuewere told to close their windows and remain inside.

A spokesperson for Vancouver Coastal Health described the acid as a "respiratory irritant," that irritates eyes and lungs, but is only dangerous in large amounts.

"If you need to go outside, cover your eyes and mouth with a wet cloth," said Viola Kaminski of Vancouver Coastal Health.

The Lookout Society was also offering shelter for anyone in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

The health authority warned that people can experience wheezing or difficulty breathing, especially those with preexistinglung problems, over the next 24 hours and should seek medical attention.

Health concerns

The chemical involved in this incident,trichloroisocyanuricacid, can cause eye and skin irritation, and it is harmful if absorbed through the skin or inhaled.

"In largequalities,it can bepotentiallyfatal but we're hoping no one gets close enough to inhale that kind ofquantity," saidKaren Bartlett, a public health professor at UBC.

"The folks that are closest to the source of the smoke are the ones we should be most concerned about."

Head to a shopping mall if possible, she advised, as they tend to have a robust air filtration system that is often better suited to removing pollutants than a typical home environment.

Transit cancellations,delays

Bus service has resumed in the affected area, but TransLink cautioned it will take time for the service to get back on schedule. In the meantime, customers can continue to expect delays.

• LIVE BLOGTraffic and transit updates for Metro Vancouver

West Coast Express has started running buses from Waterfront station.